Chapter 11: The Two Tigers Plan (Part 2)

  2.

  The 2007 National Day was somewhat dull, the Chinese government did not celebrate as grandly as in previous years. Perhaps to avoid over-stimulating neighboring Japan, which had just been expelled from Indonesia by China, the originally scheduled Tiananmen National Day military parade was also cancelled on pretext.

  In fact, there is no better test of a military's combat capability than actual combat. The Chinese military's combat effectiveness has already been proven through its successive battles in the South China Sea.

  So during this year's National Day, although there were not many large-scale celebrations organized by the government, the festive atmosphere in the capital Beijing was still very strong. Tourists from all over the country flocked to Beijing to catch a glimpse of the Republic's prosperity, including Leng Ziyun and Kang Wei, who had just returned from the front lines and were among the first batch of medal recipients.

  "The Japanese Spring Day Cabinet has collapsed." Just as the Chinese people were celebrating their motherland's 59th birthday, news came from across the sea of a major earthquake in Japan's political arena. Due to the influence of the loss in the Southeast Asian war, the Liberal Democratic Party's Spring Day Cabinet, which had been in power for two years, was attacked by opposition parties and forced to resign en masse.

  The temporary caretaker cabinet was formed by Kōshirō Ishida, a veteran politician of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan, to wait for the results of the next general election. Kōshirō Ishida is a well-known conservative force in Japanese politics and has always opposed sending Self-Defense Forces overseas. His rise to power may indicate the direction of Japan's future political development.

  "It seems that Japan will be powerless to move south in a short period of time." Looking at the latest issue of Reference News, Zhao Lian, commander of the 146th Armored Division of the Chinese People's National Defense Army, who was conducting outdoor mobile training exercises in Xuzhou, asked Wu Chouqin, political commissar of the division, with great interest.

  "It seems to be the case from the current situation. However, it is also possible that Japanese citizens, stimulated by war, seek to further expand their military power and embark on a path of militarization." Looking at the 98D main battle tanks of the 146th Armored Division driving across the vast plains of Central China, Wu Zuqin replied after a moment's hesitation.

  "From the current East Asian situation, we must rely on Japan. So I personally think that allowing or even helping Japan to possess nuclear weapons as soon as possible is in line with the global strategic interests of the United States." Meanwhile, across the ocean, in the political center of the United States - Washington, a fierce debate is underway.

  One is US Secretary of Defense Thomas Keane, representing the military and traditional forces. Based on the military strength displayed by China and Japan in the battle for Java Island, the Pentagon's staff conducted a simulated electronic sandbox exercise for a full-scale war between China and Japan in the future.

  The result was astonishing. Without almost any deep mobilization, the Chinese People's National Defense Army defeated Japan and occupied Tokyo in just 3 months with its newly formed 10 high-mobility expeditionary forces.

  "Currently, Japan's defense posture is worse than during the Cold War era. If the Chinese government were to launch an attack on mainland Japan, the Japanese government would be able to mount effective resistance for at most 3-5 months. Therefore, I believe that we should allow Japan to possess nuclear weapons in order to deter a potential Chinese attack on its mainland." Thomas Keagy, who can be described as a veteran of almost all US military actions abroad since Vietnam, made this suggestion from a purely military perspective.

  "I have in my hand a book that I believe every one of you should read. It has a very representative name for this nation - 'The Chrysanthemum and the Sword'. We cannot allow a nation that loses its reason in war, a country that chooses self-destruction for honor, to possess weapons with massive destructive power." On the other hand, the representative was the cunning Vice President John Garr. The two sides' opinions were at an impasse.

  "Some people have said that the best way to maintain peace and stability in East Asia is to maintain a balance of power among all parties. For example, during the Pacific War, we used armed China to deter Japan, and during the Cold War, we promoted joint defense between China and Japan against the southern advance of the Russian bear. But I think that today in Asia, there is no way to stop the rise of the Chinese dragon." President Li said calmly after listening patiently to both sides' speeches.

  "Even if Japan possesses nuclear weapons, it cannot truly counterbalance a powerful China and can only lead China to choose a more intense preemptive nuclear strategy in a direct confrontation with Japan. Please remember that the so-called nuclear balance can only be achieved between two nuclear powers with the same strategic depth and the ability to effectively organize a 'second strike'. Japan's territory is too small, and after the first round of nuclear strikes by Chinese troops, it will not be able to organize an effective nuclear counterattack. Therefore, the United States should do everything possible to prevent Japan from possessing nuclear weapons. Stopping China now can no longer be achieved by arming several small countries around it. The US still has a lot of work to do, and I don't want everyone to waste too much energy on the situation in East Asia."

  Since the Battle of Java, President Mike Lee's words and deeds have changed completely, and he has been criticized as a "new isolationist". Recently, he frequently convened national security meetings, with more central topics involving two countries: China and Argentina.

  The Chinese Navy's nuclear-powered aircraft carrier "Shanghai" set sail on its return journey after paying tribute to the heroic spirits of Chinese naval martyrs who died in battle at the Nansha Islands, where fierce sea battles once broke out. It will make a 5-day brief stopover in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for rest and replenishment.

  Hong Kong, known as the "Pearl of the Orient", has long been a favourite among the world's major navies due to its excellent harbour facilities and its status as a free port. On 9 December 1996, US Secretary of Defense William Perry raised the issue of allowing US warships to continue visiting Hong Kong after 1997 in talks with Chinese Defence Minister Chi Haotian at the Pentagon.

  After that, every year the US Navy had 50-80 warships passing through and berthing in Hong Kong, increasing Hong Kong's foreign exchange earnings by $500-700 million each year (not including the consumption of American sailors on shore). And today, Hong Kong's waters finally welcomed the motherland's aircraft carrier fleet. Almost overnight, the neon-lit Hong Kong became a sea of flags, with five-star red flags and Bauhinia flags fluttering everywhere in the streets. The grandeur was no less than that of the 97 handover.

  The port conditions in Hong Kong are unparalleled, with over 30 excellent harbors and anchorages in the nine islands of Hong Kong, most of which have a water depth of more than 10 meters. If it weren't for the British running it as a commercial center for many years, I believe it would be an excellent naval base. Standing on the deck of the warship, feeling the cool sea breeze blowing towards him, Captain Ma Lan of the aircraft carrier "Shanghai" said with infinite emotion.

  At this time, the massive warship is slowly entering the beautiful Victoria Harbour. The total area of Victoria Harbour is 600 hectares, with a water depth of 12 meters, and can berth 150 ships at the same time. It can accommodate various military vessels in service with the Chinese People's Navy, including aircraft carriers, amphibious assault ships and nuclear-powered submarines.

  To welcome the comrades who have just returned from the battlefield, all members of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Garrison in Hong Kong were mobilized. Commander Chen Wanjian of the PLA Garrison in Hong Kong even took a helicopter to land on the aircraft carrier "Shanghai".

  "Really, no military control zones are needed at all?" Colonel Chen Wanjian was somewhat surprised when he heard Colonel Xu Jie's request to cancel all military control zones. The original garrison troops had already reached an agreement with the SAR government to divide Hong Kong into 9-12 temporary military zones, and all expenses of the Chinese expeditionary forces within these zones would be paid by the Hong Kong SAR government.

  "Since Hong Kong's return to the motherland, the public security situation has been obvious to all. After our sailors land, I believe they will also strictly follow the rules and regulations of the SAR government. Please rest assured on this point, Commander Chen." As he saw off the first batch of sailors boarding a speedboat, Major General Xu suddenly asked: "Actually, I personally like to go to bars in my free time, I wonder if Commander Chen has any good recommendations?"